FAIR VALUE OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

FAIR VALUE OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

FAIR VALUE OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

4.FAIR VALUE OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

FASB ASC 820 provides a framework for measuring fair value and requires expanded disclosures regarding fair value measurements. FASB ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. FASB ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs, where available. The three levels of inputs required by the standard that the Company uses to measure fair value are summarized below.

· Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

· Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the related assets or liabilities.

· Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

FASB ASC 820 requires the use of observable market inputs (quoted market prices) when measuring fair value and requires a Level 1 quoted price to be used to measure fair value whenever possible.

The following tables present the Company’s financial assets that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, segregated among the appropriate levels within the fair value hierarchy at:

December 31, 2017	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3		Total
Cash	$	310,885	$	-		$	-	$	310,885
Money market funds	112,848		-			-		112,848
Certificates of deposit	-		15,720			-		15,720
Commercial paper	-		99,903			-		99,903
Variable rate demand notes	-		49,954			-		49,954
Municipal securities	-		529,984			-		529,984
U.S. government agency securities	-		81,230			-		81,230
U.S. Treasuries	-		3,397			-		3,397
Foreign currency derivatives	-		(1,484		)	-		(1,484		)
Total	$	423,733	$	778,704		$	-	$	1,202,437
Amounts included in:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	423,733	$	104,889		$	-	$	528,622
Short-term investments	-		672,933			-		672,933
Accounts receivable, net	-		95			-		95
Investments	-		2,366			-		2,366
Accrued liabilities	-		(1,579		)	-		(1,579		)
Total	$	423,733	$	778,704		$	-	$	1,202,437
December 31, 2016	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3		Total
Cash	$	278,972	$	-		$	-	$	278,972
Money market funds	76,112		-			-		76,112
Commercial paper	-		47,855			-		47,855
Variable rate demand notes	-		13,923			-		13,923
Municipal securities	-		157,617			-		157,617
U.S. government agency securities	-		26,051			-		26,051
Foreign currency derivatives	-		(528		)	-		(528		)
Total	$	355,084	$	244,918		$	-	$	600,002
Amounts included in:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	355,084	$	22,498		$	-	$	377,582
Short-term investments	-		220,554			-		220,554
Accounts receivable, net	-		236			-		236
Investments	-		2,394			-		2,394
Accrued liabilities	-		(764		)	-		(764		)
Total	$	355,084	$	244,918		$	-	$	600,002

All of the Company’s short-term investments are classified within Level 1 or Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.  The Company’s valuation of its Level 1 investments, which include money market funds, is based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical securities. The Company’s valuation of its Level 2 investments, which include municipal securities, commercial paper, U.S. Treasuries, certificates of deposit, VRDNs and U.S. government agency securities, is based on other observable inputs, specifically a market approach which utilizes valuation models, pricing systems, mathematical tools and other relevant information for the same or similar securities. The Company’s valuation of its Level 2 foreign currency exchange contracts is based on quoted market prices of the same or similar instruments, adjusted for counterparty risk. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 measurements during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, and there were no changes in the Company’s valuation techniques.